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12:49 p.m. • 2-12-12

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Wife, Son of Recent Murder Victim Arrested on Drug Charges


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Lina and Michael Imes
Lina and Michael Imes

Two family members of a recent murder victim were arrested Friday on drug charges. They were still behind bars on Saturday.

Lina and Michael Imes, the wife and son of Albert Imes, were accused of trying to deliver and sell drugs out of their house at 1229 Somerset Road.

It is the same residence where Albert Imes, a 63-year-old retired state worker, was found shot to death last week. Police said they do not believe Imes’ killing was random.

Two weeks ago, Imes' son called police saying he had been carjacked at gunpoint in the family's driveway.

After the Dec. 12 shooting, authorities said Imes’ wife, Lina, had to be taken from the scene because she was so distraught. She was also treated for chest pains.

Lina and Michael Imes were both charged Friday with possession with intent to sell and deliver marijuana and maintaining a dwelling for purposes of distributing controlled substances. They were each being held at the Wake County Jail on a $200,000 bond.

Their first court appearance is scheduled for Monday.

Neighbors said Albert Imes, whom they described as friendly and kind, was recovering from a stroke and often walked around the neighborhood with a cane and his dogs. He lived in the single story home with his wife and adult son, neighbors said.

"He was so sweet," neighbor Valerie Bumpus said. "We were devastated. We were wondering what happened and why would they do that to an old man."

“[I was] quite surprised,” said neighbor John Hancock. “I don’t know how these people could have any enemies of any sort. [They were] just very nice people."

Longtime residents said crime has increased in the area lately, and police records indicated more than 20 calls to the neighborhood this year.

"It's gone downhill, some," said Irvin Mattivi. "It never used to be this way. Everybody owned their own home and that, but it's not that way anymore."

Neighbors said the Imes family had loud dogs outside that would bark if there was any activity. The dogs had not made any noise early Wednesday morning that neighbors could recall.

Anyone with any information about the case is asked to contact Raleigh police at 919-890-3555 or Crime Stoppers at 919-226-CRIME (2743).

RELATED TOPICS: Wake County, Raleigh

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When you live your life that way what more can you expect than to die that way and obviously this man's death didn't mean as much to the mother and son as they would have us to believe since they continued on with business.

Who are we to judge? Well we are the people who have to co-occupy this planet with these people and others like them. So why wouldn't we make judgments. Hopefully you live your life based on judgements you make every day. We judge people just like we judge every other circumstance or action, that has an effect on our ability to survive on this planet. We live or die by our judgements, Is this water to swift to swim? is this car coming to fast to enter the highway? Should I trust this person? What kind of person is this? Should I associate with this person or are they trouble. We make judgments about people every day it's really just part of the survival process. Making the wrong judment of a person can get you killed just as fast as making the wrong jugment in crossing the street.

"I know this family and it is such a shame how these events have altered their lives. By all these repsonces- I sure do hope your glass houses do not shatter with all the stones you are throwing. We all make mistakes- long or short term. Yes, their mistake may be larger than yours or mine- but who are we to judge?"

Very well said prayergirl, but with that said we must realize that these things happen in an environment like that. As much as we can we need to convey this to our children BEFORE they get involved with drugs.

I know this family and it is such a shame how these events have altered their lives. By all these repsonces- I sure do hope your glass houses do not shatter with all the stones you are throwing. We all make mistakes- long or short term. Yes, their mistake may be larger than yours or mine- but who are we to judge?

Let's be real. The dead Dad was probably involved with the drug thing too. Just because you could get a few neighbors to say nice things about him...they do not know what went on behind closed doors. You can fool anyone while walking the street with your dog. I've been there, done that, trust me.

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